[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 4, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    WATER BANK EXTENSION ACT OF 1994

  Mr. de la GARZA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on Post Office and Civil Service be discharged from further 
consideration of the bill (H.R. 5053) to expand eligibility for the 
wetlands reserve program to lands covered by expiring agreements under 
the Water Bank Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in the 
House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  Mr. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I yield to 
the gentleman from Texas [Mr. de la Garza], the distinguished chairman 
of the committee.
  (Mr. EMERSON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. de la GARZA. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5053, as amended, will provide the 
Secretary of Agriculture with special authority to extend for 1 year 
water bank agreements that are due to expire on December 31, 1994.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5053, as amended, will provide the Secretary of 
Agriculture with special authority to extend, for 1 year, Water Bank 
Act agreements that are due to expire on December 31, 1994.
  The purpose of the 24-year old Water Bank Program is similar to that 
of the Wetlands Reserve Program established under the 1990 farm bill. 
The Water Bank program provides 10-year agreements for farmers to 
preserve and restore wetlands that are a vital part of our Nation's 
surface water resources and provide critical habitat for migratory 
wildlife.
  Given funding constraints on the agriculture budget, many believe the 
time has come for the Federal government to give funding priority to 
protecting wetlands on a longer term or permanent basis.
  A 1-year extension of the Water Bank agreements due to expire in 
December of this year will allow the Congress an opportunity to 
thoroughly review and set priorities for all USDA wetland protection 
and resource conservation programs in the context of the 1995 farm 
bill.
  This legislation, which was originally introduced by Mr. Pomeroy of 
North Dakota, will provide an opportunity to continue protecting the 
approximately 60,000 acres enrolled in the Water Bank Program until 
this necessary review and debate occurs.
  The funding for the special authority provided by H.R. 5053, as 
amended, will come through the fiscal year 1995 appropriations provided 
for the Wetlands Reserve Program. We anticipate that the 1-year 
extension of current Water Bank agreements will require approximately 
$900,000 out of the $93.2 million.
  In other words, for $900,000, we will be able to protect 60,000 acres 
of critical wetlands habitat. And we will still be able to enroll 
nearly 120,000 acres of new wetland areas under the Wetlands Reserve 
Program's permanent easements. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the Water 
Bank Extension Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I am placing at this point in the Record correspondence 
between the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Merchant 
Marine and Fisheries, as follows:

         House of Representatives, Committee on Merchant Marine 
           and Fisheries,
                                  Washington, DC, October 4, 1994.
     Hon. E (Kika) de la Garza,
     Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Longworth House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: It is my understanding that H.R. 5053 
     will be considered under suspension of the rules today.
       H.R. 5053 proposes changes to the Water Bank Program. The 
     Water Bank Program was designed to protect wetlands as a 
     means to preserve and improve habitat for migratory waterfowl 
     and other wildlife resources. To be selected for inclusion in 
     the Water Bank Program, wetlands must be located in important 
     migratory waterfowl nesting and breeding areas. The U.S. Fish 
     and Wildlife Service (USFWS) plays an important role in 
     selecting lands for the Water Bank Program.
       The Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee has 
     jurisdiction over fish and wildlife conservation and habitat, 
     including wetlands and migratory birds. We also oversee the 
     activities of the USFWS in carrying out duties relating to 
     fish and wildlife conservation.
       I do not intend to delay consideration of this bill and, 
     without prejudice to the jurisdiction of my Committee, will 
     not seek a sequential referral of H.R. 5053. I would 
     appreciate a letter acknowledging my Committee's interest and 
     request that our correspondence be inserted in the Record 
     during House consideration.
       Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to 
     working with you on this bill.
       With kind regards.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Gerry E. Studds,
                                                         Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                     Committee on Agriculture,

                                  Washington, DC, October 4, 1994.
     Hon. Gerry E. Studds,
     Chairman, Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Cannon House Office 
         Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     5053. This legislation is not intended to affect in any way 
     the jurisdiction of your committee in regard to the Water 
     Bank Program.
       I appreciate your help in expediting the consideration of 
     this legislation and look forward to working with you in the 
     future.
       With best wishes, I am.
           Sincerely,
                                             E (Kika) de la Garza,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, H.R. 
5053 provides for the extension of agreements between several hundred 
landowners and the U.S. Department of Agriculture concerning wetlands 
that currently are enrolled in the Water Bank Program. Nearly 550 such 
agreements covering 63,000 acres will expire at the end of this 
calendar year.
  The fiscal year 1995 agricultural appropriations act provides no 
funds for the Water Bank Program. The bill will extend this program for 
1 year using appropriated funds of the Wetlands Reserve Program. This 
special authority can be used only to the extent that the amount 
available for obligation under the Wetlands Reserve Program, and the 
amount used for the 1-year extension of Water Bank agreements, does not 
exceed the 1995 appropriations. That extension will give Congress time 
to decide the future of this and other environmental programs, such as 
the Conservation Reserve Program, next year.
  The Water Bank Program, which received an $8 million appropriation 
last year, covers slightly more than 750,000 acres in 14 States that 
generally are in the Central North Americans flyway of the Mississippi 
River valley, and Montana California, and Maine. Of the total acres, 
about half are true wetlands with the remainder classified as adjacent 
lands.
  Mr. EMERSON. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the bill, as follows:
  (The text of H.R. 5053, as introduced, will be printed in a 
subsequent issue of the Record.)


   amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. de la Garza

  Mr. de la GARZA. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment in the Nature of a 
Substitute.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment in the Nature of a substitute offered by Mr. de 
     la Garza:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Water Bank Extension Act of 
     1994''.

     SEC. 2. SPECIAL AUTHORITY TO EXTEND WATER BANK ACT 
                   AGREEMENTS.

       (a) Subject to subsection (b), any agreement entered into 
     under the Water Bank Act (16 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) and due to 
     expire on December 31, 1994, may be extended for 1 year under 
     section 6 of the Water Bank Act (16 U.S.C. 1305).
       (b) The authority to extend Water Bank Act agreements under 
     this Act may only be exercised to the extent that the amount 
     available for obligation under the Wetlands Reserve Program 
     (16 U.S.C. 1637 et seq.), and the amount used for the 
     extension of Water Bank Act agreements under subsection (a), 
     does not exceed $93,200,000 as provided for the Wetlands 
     Reserve Program under the Agricultural, Rural Development, 
     Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
     Appropriations Act, 1995.

  Mr. de la GARZA (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendment in the nature of a substitute be considered 
as read and printed in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute offered by the gentleman from Texas [Mr. de la 
Garza].
  The amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time and passed.


               title amendment offered by mr. de la garza

  Mr. de la GARZA. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the title.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Title amendment offered by Mr. de la Garza: Amend the title 
     to read as follows: ``A bill to authorize the Secretary of 
     Agriculture to extend for one year Water Bank Act agreements 
     that are due to expire on December 31, 1994.''.

  The title amendment was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________